Little Falls transcript., 1887-02-25
A BATTLE AMONG THE ANTS.
Fierce Fight Near PHILADELPHIA The Captives
Made Slaves.


| From the Philadelphia Ledger.
In the summer, q year ago,a swarm
OF black ants (Formica Pennsylvani-
cay built their nests betweeen the cell
ing and the roof OF shed near our
dwellingi ginthe suburbs of P Philadelphia.
At g. distance of q few hundred feet
from the shed second colony OF the
same species had also built home in
q sheltered place. Both nests were
unusually populous.
Battles between ants of different
species, fought for the purpose OF cap
turing slaves have been often described.
But on a bright morning in August
was witness of a fight between these
two colonies of tho same species, which
could have been waged for no such
purpose, and which gave the occasion
for a greater display of forethought
on the part of the combatants than
Is usually conceded even to the ant.
The nest in the roof was the one at
tackled. The only approach to it
from the ground was by a post and
plastered wall about six feet high. A
smooth plank floor fitted closely
against the wall and post and was
| raised above the ground bv a low
step. This floor was the scene OF the
conflict.
In all my repeated study OF these
nests and their inhabitents during
the summer months the small work
ers were the only ones who seemed to
labor. They did all the foraging and
1t was unusual to see one of the larger
workers outside of the entrance
OF the nest, which however,
they faithfully guarded. The con-
duct OF the latter so much more close
ly agreed with that of the soldier ants
OF kindred species that in speaking OF
them in this paper l shall call them
soldiers and, so far as could be seen,
did nothing else.
When I saw them on the morning
OF the battle both the small
workers and the large ones or sold
iers, We're out on the wall post, and
tloor in great numbers. There was no
fight then going on. A strong force OF
soldiers held every approach at the
foot OF the post and WALL smaller
bodies were formed in regular lines
half way up the post, and large out
standing groups were stationed at
close distances here and there upon
the floor and step, and running up
and down the post supporting the
nest.
While stood wondering at the un-
usual commotion I saw at the dis
tance of q few feet a. host OF small
workers, closely followed by q great
horde OF soldiers, streaming along a
fence from the other distant nest.
They must have venumbered thousands.
in very short time these hostile
workers descended the fence to the
ground, swarmed up the step to the
door, and poured in crowds upon the
defensive scouts. The antagonists
rushed upon each other, and with
their strong jaws cut off here q leg and
there Gil antenna, and sometimes sew
cred the body ofan opponent at blow.
Ihe foremost soldiers Of the defensive
party came to the rescue, and the
swarm of hostile workers was driven
back toward the step.
But by this time the soldiers Of the
attacking party had reached the floor,
moving deliberately onward in a.
dense, black mass, crushing their
smaller foes as they advanced. In a
few moments the small workers we're
either all killed or retI ed from the
front. Then the battle between the
soldiers of the opposing forces began
In earnest. Haltlng q moment till
their ranks were close and compact,
though by no means regular, the in
vaders advanced to the attack in g.
dense mass seeming to completely
cover the floor over which they
moved. In this close array they met
the defenders, whom they greatly out
numbered. They were received, how
ever, with courage as great as their
own, and their ranks were quickly
broken up and thrown into apparent
disorder.
After the general charge had been
thus made and the contestants were
mixed up in an undistinguishable
crowd, single champions were seen
rushing around the floor seeking q
foe. When two OF these champions
approached each other a mutual
examination with the ends of their
to tell foe from friend. Many such
meetings were friendly, and after the
salutation both would rush away at
full speed. But when, by the delicate
test OF feeling or whatever serves them
to thus distinguish, each had found
an enemy, they rushed upon one an.
with the utmost rage, cllnched both
with feet and jaws, and doubling them
selves up, rolled over the floor, biting
and tearing each other, entirely un-
disturbed in their deadly work by be-
ing lifted up into the air with a pair OF
forceps. At one time the floor was
nearly black with these rolling COM
batants.
AS the battle progressed the supe-
rior numbers of the invaders drove the
defenders of their home slowly back
ward to the foot of the post. Then q
number OF the small workers, who
had been stationed upon the post,
ran rapidly up to the nest. In a
moment fresh army OF soldiers, num-
bering many hundreds, rushed from
the nest, and, descending the post,
passed the guards at the base and fell
upon the victorious foe, driving them
back slowly, but steadily, to the
edge OF the step. The guards at the
base OF the post did not appear to
leave their station to engage in the
general fight, and only took part in
it all when the attacking soldiers
tried to pass them to reach the nest.
The fight lasted about five hours,
and ended in a total rout OF the at
tacking party. Toward the close the
wounded doubtless OF the invading
party, were seen dragging themselves
of the field, generally carrying with
them some enemy which had fastened